Closure means for container openings



Dec. 19, 1944. H. W. DODSON 2,365,178

CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINER OPENINGS Filed Sept. 18, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet1 TTORN E Y.

0" INVENTOR.

Dec. 19, 1944.

H. W. DODSON CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINER OPENING-S Filed Sept. 18, 19403 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 06060 1114100 656::

A RNEY.

1944. H w. DODSON 2,365,178

CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINER OPENINGS Dec. 1

Filed ,Sept. 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. v DacZsoz-z PatentedDec. 19,1944

cLosUnE MEANS roneconmmsn.

- OPENINGS.- I p Hciward'WiDodongAldan, Rmgassifgnorg by mesneassignments; tmUnited Steel 'Barrel Company, Philadelphia, Bag. acorporation ofl-Pennsyle vanish.

' Application September is, I 9.4",",SerialNo:" a'mzzce a claims... (o1;ass-49):

. The; present invention relates tocertainlnew and usefulclosure meansfor the; openings ofimetallic. containers, such. as steel drums,barrels, tanks or the like. i

For. the purposeof. illustrating the. invention, there is. shown. in theaccompanying drawings forms thereof which are at presentpreferred',since the same have been. found in practice. to give. satisfactory and.reliable results, although it is to. beunderstood that thevariousinstrumentalities of. which the. invention consists can. be

variously arranged and organized. 'andthati the invention. is notvlimited tothe precise arrangement. and. organization ofthe'instrumentalities as herein shown and described. p

In. the accompanying drawings. wherein. like referencecharactersindicate like parts,

Figure 1 represents an enlarged. fragmentary sectional perspective viewshowing. the flanged body metal. portion. of one. illustrativeembodiment of the present inventionfisurrounding a con.- tainer opening,shown. prior to. the casting. of a bushing. therearound;

Figure Z'represents-a view showing. the ffl'an'ged body metalportionenveloped by abushing which has been cast in situ therearoundl' Figure 3represents a view similar 7 to that shown in Figure 2'; but showing thebushing with its.v upper outer corner portion flanged radially outwardlyto provide a securement' shoulder for retaininga seal cap; v

Figure 4 represents an enlarged-fragmentary sectional perspective viewshowing theassembled closure means, withthe' plug portion 1 being bothwire-sealed and cap-sealed for tamper indicating purposes.

Figure 5 represents anenlarged fragmentary perspective View of'amodified bodvmetal-const'ruction around a containeropening;

Figure 6 represents an enlarged-view; partly in section and partly inelevation, showing as sembled closure-means in'whichhas beenincorporated the modification illustrated. in Fig ure' 5;

In the accompanying drawingsthe' panel.- in- In the particularembodimentsioithe present invention illustrated in theaccompanyingdrawings, the body metal of container wall 20 inthe vicinityof the opening. I 9 is outwardlyfiangedto provide a. generallycylindrical outwardly extending flange portion 2 l., integral with the.wallmetal, surrounding the container opening [9. A series ofanti-rotational, preferably well defined} pm jections or. lugs I 2 2,.integral with the, flange" if: may: be. ,provid'ed'i,at' suitableintervals? along: the outermostledge' ofithe. flange 21 fofthe purpos'eof" providing keying or" gripping surfaces which will prevent rotation.or loosening of die-cast bushing 2'6;vv which is subsequently ca'stinysitu around. the body, metalfiangfe. 21. These keying projections2i21may' each be tran'sverselybenfti either at" their. basal" portionsor at" some inter:- mediate point therealong; into a planeintersectingthe axis ofthe opening, as for example radially inwardly asillustrated" in Figure'l; thereby further to prevent amal mov'e'mento'ff'tl'ie sub sequently; castin situ' bushing ztrelative to the bodymetal flange 21'; As illustrated inFigur'e" 1*; where" these projections22 are transversely" bent at some: intermediate point" 23; theirbasalpor; ti'ons 2'4'm'ay extend generally in thesamepl'ane as theflange metal 21, and. their end portions 25 may extend radiallyinwardly,andtmaybeco' planar'if desired.

The flange portion 2"!'andassociatedfanthro tational projections 227may' be formed fromtlle bod y metal of the container. wall inany'suita-b'l'e.

manner; as'for' example by being' drawmpressed or. bent into theirdesired'ultimate shapei b'y multi step diemean'sorthelike.

The .cast bushing 26; which is" toenvelop the outwardlyextendingbodymetal" element'sZI" and 22; maythenb'e'die-ca'stin'situofffmolten metal I preferably differingflDlflTit'he" body of the" con tainer and preferabl having'ya' lowermelting point:than saidbodymetal:;

This maybe don'ein' any 'suitablemanner, as

byemploying' a' sectional mold having a metal:

receiving concavity corresponding. to: the desired shape andisize of thebushingZG; This'js ectional the opening l9; with the body metal elements21' and' 22 extending into the" metalreceiving space oftheimol'diThemoltenm'etal, at'a temperature completely fill' all the unoccupied"space 'in" the mold. Themolten metal isth en caused'pr DB1; mitted'toharden, andithe sectionalmoldwithdrawn; whereupon the" cast bushing. 26"isi'left.

outlining the container opening saidfbushi'ng 'b'ein'gjincontinuou'sintimate contact" with. the

body metali flange 2i and'proje'ctions" 22,,",and

securely fixed againstmovernent relative thereto.

' suitable low melting point. metal. composi' tion, from which the.bushing. 26. may. be cast,

may; c'omprisean, alloy, including approidmately .90; to percent oiizinc,,.about. .-.5. pei'centrof- I aluminum. about-.- 1'. to. 4percentflof; copper and about" .01 to .05 percent or magnesilu'n. Thesethe molten metal will subsequently contact, is

preferably cleaned of all scale and dirt that may be present, to improvethe union or bond or ad-;

hesion between the die-cast metal and the body metal. If desired, thisunion or bond or adhesion may be further augmented or increased bypreliminarily coating or plating the body metal in the zones to whichthe molten metal is subsequently to be applied, with cadmium or zinc.

In the illustrated embodiments of the present invention the annularbushing 26 is cast with a generally fiat annular gasket seating endsurface 28. 'If a tamper indicating seal cap 42 is to be superimposedover the assembled closure means, then the cast bushin 26 may bear asecurement shoulder 29 over which the lower peripheral edge portion ofsaid seal cap may be operatively crimped, thereby to secure said cap inposition. This shoulder 29 may be formed in any suitable manner, as forexample by casting the bushing 26 with an outwardly extending annularrib 30 disposed at its upper outer corner, as illustrated in Figure 2,and then turning or spinning tlns rib downwardly and outwardly toprovide the securement shoulder 29 illustrated in Figure 3, or byoriginally casting the laterally extending rib 30 shown in Figure 3directly into the bushing 26.

The bushing 26 is preferably cast with a sharply defined internal screwthread 21 therein, for holding a threaded closure plug. If desired,however, the bushing may have its internal screw thread 21 cut thereinafter the bushing has been cast.

The lowermost or innermost end of the bushin 26 preferably does notextend inwardly into the container beyond the plane of the adjoiningwall metal- 20, so as not to obstruct complete drainage of the containercontents through the container opening when the container is inverted.If desired, this innermost end surface of the bushing 26 may be formedin direct continuation of and coplanar with the innermost surface of thewall metal 20.

A screw threaded metal closure plug or bung 31, having an external screwthread 32 engageable with the internal bushing thread 21, may be screwthreadedly engaged with the bushing 26 securely to close the openingoutlined by the bushing. This closure plug 3! may be formed in anysuitable manner, as for example by being die-cast, or pressed intoshape. The closure plug thread 32 may be cast into the plug, or it maybe cut into'the wall thereof after the plug has been formed.

The closure plug 31 is preferably provided with a laterally extendingannular flange 33 having a. lower surface in juxtaposition to thebushing gasket seat 28. An annular sealing gasket or washer 34, whichmay be formed of natural or synthetic rubber or of any other suitablegasket material, encircles the shank 'of the closure plug, and isadapted to be pressed down tightly against the gasket seat 28 by theplug flange 33 when closure plug 3| is screwed tightly into the bushing26, thus establishing and maintaining an effective fluid-tight seal.

off the closure plug and becoming lost when the closure plug has beenunscrewed.

Closure plug 3| may be recessed as illustrated, and inside its recessmay be disposed a diametrically-extendin web of metal 35, preferablyintegral with the plug metal, to provide seizure means whereby theclosure plug 3i may be for.- cibly tightened or loosened as desired.Thus,

7 the end of any complementary-shaped implement or tool, or the end of awrench or the jaws of a pair of pliers, may be operatively inserted intothe plug recess and engaged with the transversely extending metal web35, and then turned in the desired direction to loosen or tighten theclosure plug, as the case may be. The provision of a recess in theclosure plug enables the seizure means 35 to be disposed inside therecess in the body of the plug thereby reducing the extent to which theclosure plug must project beyond the bushing 26.

If desired, other bungs or closure plugs may be employed in lieu of theillustrated plug 3|.

After the container has been filled and the closure plug engaged withthe bushing, it may be desirable to apply tamper indicating sealingmeans which will prevent the closure means from being opened withoutdetection. For this purpose, the closure plug 3| may be wire-sealed asillustrated in Figure 4, with the sealing wire 31 being looped through ahole 36 extending through the wall of the closure plug, and through anaperture 38 in a lug 39 spot welded or otherwise permanently secured tothe container wall 26. The end portions of the sealing wire 31 may bepermanently gripped by a lead or other metallic seal 40, thereby makingit impossible to rotate the closure plug 31 without breaking the sealingwire 31.

In order to facilitate the threading of sealing wire 3? through theclosure plug hole 36, the mouth of said hole may be enlarged as at 4 l,with the wall of said mouth serving to guide the end of the sealing wire31 into the hole 36.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the sealing wire 31 islooped through the apertured end 46 of a transversely extending lug 5formed from the body metal of the container integrally with the flangeportion 2i. Thus, in this particular embodiment of the presentinvention, the cylindrical flange portion 2i is formed not only with theprojections 22 extending there from, but also with a relativelyelongated anchorage lug portion 35 extending therefrom. This anchoragelug 45 may be initially bent radially inwardly coplanar with the lugs orprojections 22 by the same die means which bend these latter projectionsinwardly, but before bushing 26 is cast in situ, this anchorage lug s5is turned outwardly into the position indicated in dotted lines inFigure 5, and shown in full lines in Figure 6. When the bushing 26 isthen cast in situaround the body metal bordering the container opening.the bushing metal will also envelop the basal portion of this anchoragelug 45, whereby the latter serves as additional keying means preventingloosening or rotation of the bushing 26. The apertured outer end :36 ofthis anchorage lug 45 extends transversely beyond the outer surface ofthe bushing 26, and provides a fixed anchorage element for the sealingwire 31, thus avoiding the thereafter be removed from the closure meanswithout either destroying or visibly damaging the seal cap, thusproviding efiective tamper indicating means. i

If desired,- the closure plug 3| may be both wire-sealed and cap sealedas illustrated in Figures 4 and 6, in which case the seal cap may beprovided with an aperture through which the sealing wire 31 may extend.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it istherefore desired that the present embodiments be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to theappended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate thescope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is hereby claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sheet metal container having a relatively small opening formedin a wall thereof, an outwardly extending generally cylindrical flangeportion at said opening integral with the wall metal and bearing alongits outermost edgef'a series of well-defined, keying projectionsintegral therewith, each of-said keying projections being benttransversely. at someintermediate portion thereof, and having theirbasal portions extending generally in continuation of the adjacentflange metal, and having generally coplanar radially-inwardly-extendingouter end portions, and a bushing, pressure-cast in situ, envelopingsaid flange portion and said projections and outlining the containeropening.

2. In a sheet metal container having a relatively small opening formedin a wall thereof, an

outwardly extending generally cylindrical flange portion at said openingintegral with the Wall metal, a series of generally coplanarradiallyinwardly-extending keying projections extending from theoutermost edge of said cylindrical flange portion, and a bushing,pressure-cast in situ, enveloping said flange portion and saidkeyingprojections and outlining the container opening, said bushing bearing aninternal screw thread adapted screw-threadedly to receive a closureplug.

3. In a sheet metal container having a relatively small opening formedin a wall thereof, an

outwardly extending flange portion at said opening integral with thewall body metal, said flange portion bearing along its outermost edgease'ries of transversely bent projections, integral "therewith the wallmetal and bearing along an edge thereof a series of well-definedtransversely bent projections integral therewith, said flange portionand said projections being formed from the container wall metal aroundsaid container openi g 5. In a sheet metal container having a relativelysmall opening formed in a wall thereof, an annular flange at saidopening integral with the wall body metal, keying means associated withsaid flange, a bushing, pressure-cast in situ, enveloping said flangeand said keying means and outlining said container opening, an anchorageelement integral with the flange metal, extending from within saidbushing to a point exteriorly thereof, the exposed portion of saidanchorage element having a hole therethrough, a closure member removablyassociated with said bushing and closing the opening defined thereby,said closure member having an outer exposed annular shoulder and anopening extending generally radially through the shoulder, and a wireseal looped through the opening in said closure memher and through thehole in the exposed portion of said anchorage element said wire beinggenerally flush with the closure member. 7

6. In a sheet metal container having a relatively small opening formedin a wall thereof, an annular flange at said opening integral with thewall body metal, said flange having a series of transversely extendingkeying projections formed integrally therewith, a bushing, pressure-castin situ, enveloping said flange and said keying means and outlining saidcontainer opening, an anchorage element integral with the flange metal,ex tending from within said bushing to apoint exteriorly thereof, theexposed portion of said an chorage element having a hole therethrough, aclosure member removably associated with said bushing and closing theopening defined thereby,

I said closure member having an outer exposed annular shoulder and anopening extending gensaid flange, a bushing, pressure-cast in situ, en-I veloping said flange and said keying means and outlining saidcontainer opening, and an anchorage element integral with the flangemetal, extending from within said bushing to a point exteriorly thereof,the exposed portion of said anchorage element having a holetherethrough,

said anchorage element being adapted to receive a wire seal connected toa closure member removably associated with said bushing.

8. In a sheet metal container having a relatively small opening formedin a wall thereof, an

annular flange at said opening integral with the wall body metal, saidflange having transversely extending keying projections formedintegrally therewith, a bushing, pressure-cast in situ, enveloping-saidflange and said keyingprojections and outlining said container opening,and an anchorage element integral with the flange metal, said anchorageelementextending fromwithin said bushing to a point exteriorly thereof.

HOWARD W. DODSON.

